Military and National Defense

There is much discussion as to the amount of money the government in Washington should spend for national defense and military purposes. How do you feel about this? Do you think we are spending too little, about the right amount or too much?

Too little

About right

Too much

No opinion

%

%

%

%

2017 Feb 1-5

37

28

31

3

2016 Feb 3-7

37

27

32

5

2015 Feb 8-11

34

29

32

5

2014 Feb 6-9

28

32

37

3

2013 Feb 7-10

26

36

35

3

2012 Feb 2-5

24

32

41

3

2011 Feb 2-5

22

35

39

3

2010 Feb 1-3

27

36

34

2

2009 Feb 9-12

24

41

31

4

2008 Feb 11-14

22

30

44

3

2007 Feb 1-4

20

35

43

2

2006 Feb 6-9

25

40

32

3

2005 Feb 7-10

30

38

30

2

2004 Feb 9-12

22

45

31

2

2003 Feb 3-6

25

44

27

4

2002 Feb 4-6

33

48

17

2

2001 Feb 1-4

41

38

19

2

2000 Aug 24-27

40

34

20

6

2000 May 18-21

31

44

22

3

1999 May 7-9

28

35

32

5

1998 Nov 20-22

26

45

22

7

1993 Mar 29-31

17

38

42

3

1990 Jan 4-7

9

36

50

5

1987 Apr 10-13

14

36

44

6

1986 Mar 4-10

13

36

47

4

1985 Jan 25-28

11

36

46

7

1983 Sep 9-12

21

36

37

6

1982 Nov 5-8

16

31

41

12

1981 Jan 27

51

22

15

12

1976 Jan 23-26

22

32

36

10

1973 Sep 21-24

13

30

46

11

1971 Mar 11-14

11

31

50

8

1969 Nov 12-17

8

31

52

9

Gallup

Do you, yourself, feel that our national defense is stronger now than it needs to be, not strong enough or about right at the present time?

Stronger than it needs to be

Not strong enough

About right

No opinion

%

%

%

%

2017 Feb 1-5

11

45

43

1

2016 Feb 3-7

13

45

41

2

2015 Feb 8-11

13

44

42

1

2012 Feb 2-5

13

32

54

1

2011 Feb 2-5

11

37

50

2

2010 Feb 1-3

7

45

46

1

2009 Feb 9-12

6

37

54

3

2008 Feb 11-14

10

47

41

2

2007 Feb 1-4

8

46

43

2

2006 Feb 6-9

7

43

47

3

2005 Feb 7-10

9

40

49

2

2004 Feb 9-12

10

34

54

2

2003 Feb 3-6 ^

13

34

52

1

2002 Feb 4-6

6

43

50

1

2001 Feb 1-4

7

44

48

1

2000 May 18-21

6

38

55

1

2000 Jan 13-16

6

39

52

3

1999 May 7-9

7

42

48

3

1990 Jan 4-7

16

17

64

3

1984

15

36

46

3

^ Asked of a half sample

Gallup

Now I am going to read you a list of institutions in American society. Please tell me how much confidence you, yourself, have in each one -- a great deal, quite a lot, some or very little? The military

Great deal

Quite a lot

Some

Very little

None (vol.)

No opinion

%

%

%

%

%

%

2017 Jun 7-11

44

28

21

7

*

*

2016 Jun 1-5

41

32

19

7

*

1

2015 Jun 2-7

42

30

19

6

1

1

2014 Jun 5-8

39

35

20

6

1

*

2013 Jun 1-4

43

33

17

6

*

1

2012 Jun 7-10

43

32

18

5

1

1

2011 Jun 9-12

47

31

16

3

*

1

2010 Jul 8-11

44

32

18

4

1

1

2009 Jun 14-17

45

37

12

5

*

1

2008 Jun 9-12

45

26

20

7

1

1

2007 Jun 11-14

39

30

21

8

1

*

2006 Jun 1-4

41

32

19

5

1

1

2005 May 23-26

42

32

18

7

1

*

2004 May 21-23

36

39

19

5

*

1

2003 Jun 9-10

48

34

14

4

*

*

2002 Jun 21-23

43

36

16

5

*

*

2001 Jun 8-10

32

34

24

6

2

2

2000 Jun 22-25

25

39

26

7

1

2

1999 Jun 25-27

34

34

26

6

*

*

1998 Jun 5-7

33

31

25

8

1

2

1997 Jul 25-27

30

30

27

10

2

1

1996 May 28-29

30

36

25

7

*

2

1995 Apr 21-24

33

31

27

7

1

1

1994 Mar 25-29

30

34

26

8

*

2

1993 Mar 22-24

32

35

23

8

1

1

1991 Oct 10-13

35

34

20

8

1

3

1991 Feb 28-Mar 3

52

33

11

3

*

1

1990 Aug 16-19

37

31

22

7

1

2

1989 Sep 7-10

31

32

26

9

*

3

1988 Sep 23-26

23

35

30

9

1

2

1987 Jul 10-13

24

37

28

9

1

2

1986 Jul 11-14

29

34

24

10

1

2

1985 May 17-20

24

37

28

8

1

2

1984 Oct 6-10

28

30

24

15

--

2

1983 Aug 5-8

23

30

29

12

1

5

1981 Nov 20-23

22

28

29

14

6

2

1979 Apr 6-9

25

29

29

14

1

3

1977 Jan 7-10

23

34

25

11

1

6

1975 May 30-Jun 2

27

31

25

11

1

5

* Less than 0.5%; (vol.) = Volunteered response

Gallup

Do you think the United States is No. 1 in the world militarily, or that it is only one of several leading military powers?

U.S. is No. 1

U.S. is one of several leaders

Neither (vol.)

No opinion

%

%

%

%

2017 Feb 1-5

57

42

*

1

2016 Feb 3-7

49

49

1

2

2015 Feb 8-11

59

38

*

3

2014 Feb 6-9

53

44

1

2

2013 Feb 7-10

50

47

*

3

2012 Feb 2-5

54

45

*

1

2010 Jan 8-10

64

34

*

1

2007 Feb 1-4

60

39

*

1

2000 May 18-21

56

41

*

3

1999 May 7-9

51

46

1

2

1993 Mar 29-31

63

34

1

2

* Less than 0.5%

Gallup

Do you feel that it's important for the United States to be No. 1 in the world militarily, or that being No. 1 is not that important, as long as the U.S. is among the leading military powers?

Important

Not that important

No opinion

%

%

%

2017 Feb 1-5

68

31

1

2016 Feb 3-7

67

32

1

2015 Feb 8-11

68

31

1

2013 Feb 7-10

62

37

1

2007 Feb 1-4

61

38

1

2000 May 18-21

70

29

1

1999 May 7-9

59

39

2

1993 Mar 29-31

61

37

2

Gallup

Next, we'd like to know how you feel about the state of the nation in each of the following areas. For each one, please say whether you are -- very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied. If you don't have enough information about a particular subject to rate it, just say so. How about -- the nation's military strength and preparedness?

Very satisfied

Somewhat satisfied

Somewhat dissatisfied

Very dissatisfied

No opinion

%

%

%

%

%

2017

33

33

17

13

4

2016

25

34

17

18

6

2015

32

37

15

11

5

2014

33

39

12

10

6

2013

34

40

12

9

4

2012

35

36

14

9

6

2008

30

36

19

11

4

2007

27

35

21

11

6

2006

32

35

16

12

5

2005

28

38

20

11

3

2004

44

37

12

5

2

2003

42

41

10

4

3

2002

43

36

13

6

2

2001

24

37

19

13

7

Gallup

Just off the top of your head, which of the five branches of the Armed Forces in this country would you say is the most prestigious and has the most status in our society today -- [ROTATED: the Air Force, the Army, the Navy, the Marines (or) the Coast Guard]?

Just off the top of your head, which of the five branches of the Armed Forces in this country would you say is the most important to our national defense today -- [ROTATED: the Air Force, the Army, the Navy, the Marines (or) the Coast Guard]?

In twenty years, do you think the United States will be -- No. 1 in the world militarily, only one of several leading military powers or not among the leading military powers in the world?

U.S. will be No. 1

U.S. will be one of several leaders

U.S. not one of several leaders

No opinion

%

%

%

%

2010 Jan 8-10

36

56

6

1

Gallup

Which do you think is more likely over the next 20 years -- [ROTATED: the U.S. will have combat troops actively fighting in various countries around the world on a regular basis, (or) there will be long periods of time in which the U.S. does not have combat troops actively fighting in other countries]?

Active fighting on regular basis

Long periods with no active fighting

No opinion

%

%

%

2010 Jan 8-10

67

30

2

Gallup

Do you think women should or should not be allowed to hold combat jobs in the U.S. armed forces?

Yes, should allow

No, should not

No opinion

%

%

%

2007 Sep 7-8

74

23

3

Gallup

Do you think the United States should return to the military draft at this time, or not?

Yes, should

No, should not

No opinion

%

%

%

2007 Aug 13-16

18

80

2

2004 Oct 11-14

14

85

1

2003 Oct 24-26

17

80

3

2003 Jan 3-5 ^

27

69

4

1998 Jun 5-7

16

81

3

1981 Jul 31-Aug 3

48

45

7

1980 Jul 11-14

58

34

7

1980 Feb 1-4

59

36

5

^ Asked of a half sample

Gallup

As you may know, under the current military policy, no one in the military is asked whether or not they are gay. But if they reveal that they are gay or they engage in homosexual activity, they will be discharged from the military. Do you personally think -- [ROTATED: gays should be allowed to serve openly in the military, gays should be allowed to serve under the current policy or gays should not be allowed to serve in the military under any circumstances]?

Serve openly

Serve under current policy

Not serve

No opinion

%

%

%

%

2007 Jul 6-8

46

36

15

3

2000 Jan 13-16

41

38

17

4

Gallup

Some people feel that war is an outdated way of settling differences between nations. Others feel that wars are sometimes necessary to settle differences. With which point of view do you agree?

Outdated

Sometimes necsesary

No opinion

%

%

%

2007 Feb 1-4

37

61

3

2004 Feb 9-12

24

73

3

1999 May 7-9

26

71

3

1995 Apr 21-24 ^

38

56

6

1991 Feb 7-10 ^

17

80

3

1991 Jan 30-Feb 2 ^

21

76

4

1991 Jan 23-26 ^

37

55

8

1990 Mar 15-18 ^

49

48

3

1981 May 8-11 ^

50

43

7

1975 Apr 18-21 ^

45

46

9

1971 Jun 25-28 ^

46

44

10

^ WORDING: "...outmoded way of settling differences..."

Gallup

Which comes closer to your own opinion -- [ROTATED: the U.S. should not attack another country unless that country has attacked the U.S. first, (or) the U.S. should be able to attack any country it thinks might attack the U.S.]?

Should not attack unless attacked first

Should be able to attack

No opinion

%

%

%

2006 Jul 6-9

57

35

8

2004 Oct 9-10

52

41

7

2004 Sep 24-26

52

41

7

2004 Feb 9-12

53

43

4

2003 Dec 5-7

54

41

5

2002 Oct 3-6

51

40

9

Gallup

Do you favor or oppose allowing women in the military into combat jobs?

Favor

Oppose

No opinion

%

%

%

2005 Jun 24-26

67

32

1

1992 Nov 10-11 ^

55

42

3

^ Asked in rotation with other items

Gallup

If you had a son or daughter who was planning to enter the military, would you support that step or would you suggest a different occupation?

Support that step

Suggest different occupation

No opinion

%

%

%

2005 Jun 16-19

51

48

1

Gallup

Would you favor or oppose requiring every able-bodied young man in this country when he reaches the age of 18, to spend one year in military training and then join the reserves?

Favor

Oppose

No opinion

%

%

%

2005 Jun 16-19

35

62

3

1955 Dec 8-13

69

23

8

1955 May 12-17

76

18

6

1955 Feb 10-15

71

20

9

1955 Jan 20-25

73

22

5

1954 Dec 2-7

75

22

3

1954 Aug 26-31

72

22

6

1952 Feb 28-Mar 5

60

33

7

1951 Dec 9-14

56

28

16

Gallup

Do you think women in the armed services -- should get combat assignments on the same terms as men, should they be able to get combat assignments only if they want to or should they never get combat assignments?

Same as men

Only if want to

Never get

No opinion

%

%

%

%

2003 Dec 5-7

38

45

16

1

1991 Jul 25-26

26

53

18

3

1991 Feb 14-15

36

45

16

3

Gallup

Do you think people who are openly gay or homosexual should -- or should not -- be allowed to serve in the U.S. military?

Yes, should

No, should not

No opinion

%

%

%

2003 Dec 5-7

79

18

3

Gallup

Next, I will read you a list of jobs in the military that are considered combat jobs. Do you favor or oppose having women do each of the following? How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

Favor

Oppose

No opinion

%

%

%

Flying combat aircraft

2001 Dec 14-16 ^

77

21

2

Serving on submarines

2001 Dec 14-16 ^

73

24

3

Serving as ground combat troops

2001 Dec 14-16 ^

52

46

2

Serving as special forces that conduct operations behind enemy lines

2001 Dec 14-16 ^

63

35

2

^ Asked of a half sample

Gallup

If a draft were to become necessary, should young women be required to participate as well as young men, or not?